BAGHDAD: Iraq's prime minister will visit ​Washington on Monday ⁠to deepen strategic ties with the United States, with ‌oil and gas deals expected to be signed as part of a ​broader push for economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Iraq has been seeking to ​balance its ​ties with neighbouring Iran and the U.S. as military escalation between the two rivals continues.

"The agreements to be signed ⁠will include several memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sector as Iraq prepares to bring in various U.S. companies that will provide momentum to increase oil production capacity," government spokesperson ​Haider al-Aboudi ‌said.

Iraq's state ⁠news agency, citing ⁠al-Aboudi, said the planned oil and gas agreements would also seek to ​create alternative export outlets to reduce Iraq's ‌exposure to disruptions in the Strait of ⁠Hormuz.

Iraq, like other Gulf oil producers, has suffered a drop in oil revenue due to the effective closure of the vital shipping route during the U.S.-Iran war.

Al-Aboudi said strengthening Iraq's armed forces would also be among the issues discussed in Washington.

Relations between Iraq and the U.S. have at times been strained over the presence of U.S. troops in ‌Iraq, Baghdad's ties with Iran, and U.S. pressure ⁠on Iraq to curb the influence of Iran-backed ​armed groups.

However, after being nominated for the premiership in April, Ali al-Zaidi received congratulations from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said ​he hoped ‌for closer cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. (Reporting by ⁠Muayad Hameed. Writing by ​Eman Abouhassira. Editing by David Goodman and Mark Potter)